Snap-in lens



Aug 6, 1958 w. T. soRENsoN SNAP 1N LEN S Filed Dec. 21, 1965 T'nzi.

@15 MM, Aufl/ W u 9 5 mi IH/ U W`n aJ /T @we 3 /wb lll [INV Il wi- W. -iw ww A TTORNEY United States Patent O 3,396,269 SNAP-IN LENS Wesley T. Sorenson, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to Sorenson Lighted Controls, Inc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 515,300 2 Claims. (Cl. 240-152) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Lens-case assembly having snap action replaceable lens.

This invention relates to electrical devices and, more particularly, to a lens-case assembly for enclosing indicato-r lights for electrical cir-cuits.

In various lens-case assemblies, it is often desirable to provide lenses that may be readily replaced in the case whereby neon lights or the like may be exchanged or rewired or in the event that lenses of various colors or bearing different insignia may be `substituted in the lenscase assembly as a matter of choice or convenience.

The present invention comprises a lens case assembly wherein the len-s element is releaseably attached to a housing element by means of frictional interengagement between projections on the respective elements. Projections on the interior of the case frictionally cooperate by snap action with corresponding projections on resilient legs of the lens element. Suicient residual stiffness in the lens element legs retain said element in position in normal circumstances of usage, and when said lens element is to be replaced, it is readily removed from the case by means of moderate, manual or digital for-ce.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification.

The features of novelty which are believed to be c-haracteristic of the invention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as to their fundamental principles and as to their particular embodiments, by `reference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View of the lens-case assembly of .the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective, exploded view of the assembly shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE-3 is an enlarged bottom view, shown partly in dotted outline, lof the device illustrated in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section view, partly broken away, taken on line 4 4 of FIGURE l, which is just offcenter of said FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section View taken on line 5 5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a still further enlarged fragmentary perspective and exploded view of a portion of the case and of one of the legs of the lens element.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown a rectangular shaped case or housing, generally designated 11, having a pair of spaced apart side walls 12 and 13 and a pair of spaced apart end walls 14 :and 15, respectively, said side walls and end walls being integrally formed out of a suitable insulating material such as Bakelite, nylon, rubber, or the like. Wall-s 12 and 13 `have integrally formed, outwardly extending longitudinal flanges 16 and 17, respectively, while end walls 14 and have integrally formed, outwardly extending flanges 18 and 19, respectively, iall of said flanges being joined to form a unitary rim around the top of case 11.

Formed at the top of case 11 at a short distance from the outer edges of flanges 16, 17, 18, and 19, and below 3,396,269 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 rice the surface thereof is a rectangular recess having end shoulders 21 and 22 and late-ral shoulders 23 :and 24 forming a rectangular support. Formed integrally with and extending inwardly from the interior surfaces of end walls 14 and 15 are projections 26 and 27, respectively, the top ysurfaces of which are substantially ush with the surfaces of shoulders 21 and 22.

Formed on the inner surfaces of side walls 12 and 13, and at 'both ends thereof, are vertical recesses 31, the upper ends of which terminate a short distance from the top surface of shoulders 23 and :Z4 whereby a protuberant lip 32 is formed at the .top of each of said vertical recesses.

The lens element of the present invention, 4gener-ally designated 41, and formed of a suitable translucent or transparent material such as Lucite, polyethylene, nylon, or the like, comprises a pair of spaced apart `side walls 42 and 43 and a pair of spaced apart end walls 44 :and 45 ywhich are integrally formed with top wall 46 to form a boxlike structure. The bottom interior surface of top wall 46 may optionally be embossed with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 47 :as shown in cross-section in FIG- URE 5, or with other configurations as desired or necessary.

integrally formed at the bottom edges at each end of longit-udinal walls 42 and 43 are downwardly extending legs 48, each leg having intermediate its ends an integrally formed and outwardly extending ridge 49. The distance between the outside surfaces of legs 48 is approximately the same as the difference between the opposing faces of lips 32. Legs 48 have sufficient resilience and yieldability whereby the insertion of lens element 41 into case 11 permits ridges 49 to be forcibly bypassed over the respective vertical surfaces of lips 32 until said ridges 49 come to rest frictionally against the respective bottom edges of lips 32. Ridges 49 are located on legs 48 in a position where the bottom edges of walls 42, 43, 44 and 45, of lens element 41 rest upon `shoulders 21, 22, 23 and 24 when said element is releaseably secured in position on case 11.

Due to the resilience of legs 48, lens element 41 is attached by snap action on case 11. Because of the residual stillness of legs 48, the cooperation between the lips 32 and ridges 49 prevent dislodgment of lens element 41 from case 11 in normal circumstances. By exerting moderate manual or digital force, lens element 41 may readily be removed from case 11, when necessary, by overcoming the frictional engagement between lips 32 and ridges 49.

Although lens element 41 is ill-ustated as having longitudinal and lateral dimensions that are only slightly smaller than that of the recess formed in case 11, it is understood that lens element 41 may be made in other varieties of shapes provided, however, that it has integrally formed resilient legs 48 and ridges 49 for frictionally cooperating with lips 32 in case 11 for releaseably securing said lens element in position.

Various other modifications and varied applications of the novel features of the apparatus in the detailed description above will occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently this invention should be construed broadly in accordance with its full spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. A lens-case assembly comprising a rectangular housing formed of two spaced apart parallel end walls and two spaced apart parallel side walls, a rectangular horizontal recess in the top of said housing, said recess being formed by two pairs of parallel inwardly extending horizontal `shoulders located "below the top surface of said housing and formed integrally with the respective walls thereof, two spaced apart vertical recesses in the interior surfaces of said side walls, the tops `of said vertical `recesses being spaced apart vertically .below the respectivev shoulders of said sidewalls, a rectangular lens element the bottom portion of which ts into said recess, a pair of spaced apart integrally formed downwardly extending resilient legs on the side walls of said lens element and an loutwardly extending rid-ge integrally formed on each of said legs, each of said ridges engaging by snap action the .top of a respective vertical recess to secure said lens in position within `said horizontal recess.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said ridges on said legs and the top of the respective vertical recesses are located in corresponding positions where the interengagement of said ridges and respective vertical recesses causes the bottom of said lens to rest rrnly upon 'the to'p surfaces of said respective shoulders.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,428,167 9/1947 Linton 24U-2 2,959,668 11/1960 Andrews 240-152 3,076,890 2/1963 Guth 240-152 X 2,907,090 10/1959 Gaspardo 220--82 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPHF. PETERS, JR., Assistant Examiner. 

